Award-winning Australian electronic duo, The Ironing Maidens are pressing for progress with their fresh-pressed beats and laundromat shows, which put domestic labour, technology and the history of women in electronic music centre stage.

Award-winning Australian band, Hanlon Brothers masterfully fuse original hip-hop, RnB, soul and jazz improvisations to create a signature sound that with a killer combination of raw talent, versatility and flawless technique draws thousands of people to shows.

Recently announced as Song Of Year finalists in two Queensland Music Awards categories (Urban and Regional), Hanlon Brothers were named Gold Coast’s Emerging Artist Of The Year in 2015, as well as an Artist of the Year finalist in 2016.

With a distinctly international flavour Gold Coast band, BB Factory are bringing their 'no rules blues' to the fore with the release of their debut single Save Me, out on all digital platforms 3 November.

With two slam poet championships, four years of international touring, 14 Writers’ Festivals, 8 years hosting workshops, two popular poetry books and two full length albums under his belt, Australia's Luka Lesson is known world-wide as a leading critical thinker, creative writer and cultural change maker.

Award-winning producer, engineer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, James North works with publishing libraries around the world, global TV networks Nickelodeon, HBO and NBC, as well as hundreds of artists world-wide, making him one of Australia's most sought-after talents.

Named one of five top songwriters in Australia this year, Johan Danno is an American indie folk pop artist sharing seriously good vibes from his second home, the Gold Coast.

Training with Eric Clapton's guitarist from the age of 13, Johan Danno (pronounced Dan-know) released the second single from his debut EP, produced with popular Australian songwriter and producer, Garrett Kato in Byron Bay.

With more than 450 shows and tours throughout Australia, the US and Hawaii under his belt, Johan's conscious brew of soul-pop, folk-rock, intellectual hip-hop and reggae have caught the attention of Universal Music's Def Jams Island Group, Jack Johnson's tour manager and gained him fans across the globe.

Man, Johan Danno ripped it at A-Loft! Cannot wait to have him back in Boston for our events and collaborate.

— Chris Culnae, Oxford Group & Manager of Daybreak Boston (USA)

Raised in a musical family in Florida, USA, the blue-eyed idealist formed his first official band at age 21 to help a child with Spina Bifida raise money to record music for his family - an experience Johan credits to fuelling his fire to pursue a career in music.

"I learned about the power of music and how it can help people," said Johan, "That, along with the rush of performing on stage, was when I knew I'd be playing music for the rest of my life."

Leaving Orlando fresh out of university, Johan headed to Australia eight years ago with just his clothes and a guitar on his back for a short-lived diversion climbing the corporate ladder, before trading in his high flying lifestyle to pursue a career as a full-time independent, self-managed musician.

His passion for what he does is something that gets too often lost in the world we live in today.

— Nick Teal, Teal cheese

Johan Danno has since become a favourite in his adopted city, playing regularly and taking out top spots in a myriad of Gold Coast music competitions while continuing to develop his presence overseas through a network of fellow indie musicians and dedicated fans.

Returning in September 2017 for a 10-city East Coast USA tour to support the release of Fighting For, Johan performed at Bostons Daybreaker festival, Capo Supper Club, iconic New York City venue Bowery Electric, Nashville’s Belcourt Taps, and Orlando’s The Social, leading him to perform in Austin for Google.

Reconnecting with his roots and wanting to grow his now budding US fan base, Johan extended his stay in the USA. In 2018 he will release two EPs, and head back to the cities awaiting his return, both in his native USA and his favourite new home, Australia.

Following a successful Adelaide Fringe Festival season, Stephen Dorrington, the tradie-by-day, singer-songwriter-thespian-by-night, is launching his new EP, 1987, 24 February at New Globe Theatre.

The 1987 Launch will be a theatrical rock show of epic proportions offering four cracking local bands, including Ellie Jane and the Forces of Destiny, Olivia Ruth and Conspiracy of One, with Dorrington's headline set featuring the Candy Shop Girls, a choir and other surprise guest appearances.

A powerhouse production duo, Caprice Quinn and Druovanni Defoe, collectively known as Capovanni, are taking no prisoners when it comes to making music on their terms, starting with their double album debuts in 2016.

Falling asleep on the lounge-room floor, cocooned safely and serenely in a world of sound is a childhood memory fixed firmly in the minds and hearts of Gold Coast band, City Over Sand. And that is the exact vibe the duoinspire in their debut 11-track alt-pop-rock LP, Good Grief, due for release 23 September.

Hailed as the dark jewel in his crooked crown, Revelations tells the story of singer songwriter, Byron Short's life as a down and out rock ‘n’ roller walking the line between damnation and salvation. Already touted by media as "like a hurricane", this 10 track body of work is earmarked for glory.

At just 16 years old, Bridget O'Shannessy is set to be the new sweetheart of country music. Endearing and engaging with a natural talent for crafting tunes that appeal to a wide audience, it is no surprise this young Australian is attracting the attention of industry taste-makers world-wide.

ABOUT SCAR STORIES

Scar Stories Inc. is an organisation that uses creative initiatives to support young cancer survivors aged 18 to 35 years. It brings together photographers, musicians, artists and cancer survivors to reveal what most people keep hidden following cancer treatment - the physical scars that remind them of a grim and painful experience.

Scar Stories reveals the 'pretty' and 'gritty' side of cancer through a range of creative endeavors that raise awareness of this unique cancer population, funds for specialised treatment and empower young adult cancer survivors to rock their post-treatment bodies, scars and all.

After taking a photo of her cancer scar in 2011 and sharing the image online, then 22-year-old Scar Stories founder, Jasmine Gailer, felt better for it! We have since taken more than 40 professional scar portraits (now available for purchase in a coffee-table book), with 11 photographers and exhibited in Queensland and Victoria.

Legends like Hunters & Collectors, Dead Letter Circus, Adil Memon, Deena and Phil Barlow & The Wolf have joined Scar Stories to shred sound and light on these issues through photoshoots and benefits concerts.

The photographs are incredibly moving and demonstrate a great deal of bravery and resilience from young people challenged in a way most of us never will be.

— Hunters & Collectors drummer, Doug Falconer

We were honored to be asked [to do a Scar Stories photoshoot]. If you’ve kicked cancer’s arse, wear it on your sleeve I say.

— Dead Letter Circus bassist, Stewart Hill

Scar Stories specifically raises awareness for young adults who have had cancer. The 18-35yr age group has been identified as a unique cancer population whose improvements in outcomes have lagged behind those achieved in other age groups.

Imagine that time in your life when self-image is extremely important – the physical and emotional post-treatment scars are heavy.

— Scar Stories President & CEO, Jasmine Gailer

Scar Stories Inc. provides young adult cancer patients and survivors with access to free art, music and photography classes and workshops around Australia.

Everyone, including patients, survivors, musicians, photographers, artists and you, are encouraged to visit www.scarstories.org and get involved!

Following a standout performance at Hollywood's recent Global Rock Summit, Gold Coast rockers Evol Walks will be the first ever unsigned Australian band to play the Main Stage of Poland's Woodstock festival. One of Europe’s largest music events, Evol Walks will be playing to some 750,000 people this July, right up there with the headlining bands, Black Label Society, Within Temptation and Congo Natty.

Originating from the busking strips of Brisbane singing acoustic soul music, Adil Memon's unique style won fans over, collectively reaching near 100,000 fans online worldwide in only 2 years. Fusing his soulful style with electronic sounds, Adil's musical direction morphed in 2014, working with DJ's and producers creating a unique sound that won over a completely contrasting audience, with his singles 'In the night' and 'Same Way'.